Ride Report #11: Christmas Ride

Disclaimer: Not all photos posted in this post are taken by me. I have the permission from the owner to use their photos for the blog 

 

Since Christmas fell on a Friday and we had a long weekend the group planned a ride to Pedu lake on Sunday. Since this was uncharted territory for all of us we had a lead, sweeper and pointers. There were a total 17 bikes joined this trip which is the biggest group we had so far.

Complete route for the trip - Courtesy of Afizi

There are 2 meeting points for the planned out. First is the usual Caltex at E-gate. There are a total of 9 riders who are meeting up here before taking off to the next stop for a regroup and ride briefing before starting the trip. After some introductions between riders, we left for the second checkpoint.

 

Introduction between riders before leaving the island

BMW F 900R: First Ride Impression

After testing the R1250 GS I asked if they have the 310 GS available for test ride as well but sadly that was not the case. The salesman suggested to test the F 900R as it is the same engine as the 850 and since I was already there, I figured why not.

 

He handed me the key, brief me about the functions available on the bike and sent me on my little merry way. There are not a lot of functions on this bike as it only has 2 riding modes: Rain and Road. In order to get more modes, one would require to get the package.

 

The first thing i noticed when I got on the bike was the position of the foot pegs. They are higher and positioned more to the back which makes the riding position aggressive. Pulling out of the showroom the bike feels so small and it reminds me of riding my Demak, does not feel like one is riding a 895cc bike. The bike is front heavy and it needs some aggressive persuasion to get the bike to go where you want it to. It is not as agile as the R1250GS or the Triumph Tigers. I went wide going into the first corner and was lucky that there was no other cars on the road.

 

Ride Report #10: A visit to Segari Turtle Conservation Center

Since I had a long week off made a last minute decision to visit the Segari Turtle Conservation Center. Passed the sanctuary a few years back during the first visit to Sitiawan but because of tight schedule it was kept in the 'places to visit' list.

Overall journey

Left the island quite late as there were some chores to be completed. Halfway thought the ride, we had to do a unplanned pit stop at the Buki Merah R&R as the headscarf was being uncooperative with the helmet. Other than that the ride on the highway was a boring expressway ride until the Changkat Jering turnoff.

Bukit Merah rest stop

From here the scenery changed to the old trunk roads riding pass small towns and palm oil estate. It was a lovely ride with a nice cloudy weather. As we were approaching the sanctuary, there was a major road work and the detour made the ride a bit more interesting with a mixture of off road riding.

Ride Report #9: Recce to Baling

Since this is officially the first ride after the CMCO, the group decided to head towards our usual haunting ground, Grik, to let off some pent-up CMCO energy. There was a total of 9 riders who joined the ride and 2 of them are new riders and new to the route as well. As usual I am the sweeper in case the new riders does not know our usual petrol stop. Since I am running late I told the rest to proceed ahead to the Seberang meet-up point and will meet them there.

Waiting for the rest of the group to arrive

Since we were there early and the sun is starting to come out the temperature started rising. For being late, I treated both Barney and Alex a cold 100+ drink. There was one rider who will join us at a later time told us to carry on ahead without him and he will meet us at the BHPetrol. When all the riders met up at the second stop, we proceeded to the third stop to pick up another 2 members.

Ride Report #8: Third ride to nowhere - within Penang

With the CMCO still in place, the group decided to do a third installment of the ride to nowhere within the island. We have the usual suspect: Barney, Mookie, Nik and myself. Meet-up was at the same place but since they will be heading to the dam again, I opted to meet them 1/2 way.

The Vulcan waiting for the arrival of the rest of the group

It was not a long wait at the rendezvous point before the rest of the group showed up. Headed up to the dam and was surprised to see that the dam was de-voided of life unlike last week where there was quite a number of cyclist.

Ride Report #7: Second ride to nowhere - within Penang

Having completed the first ride to nowhere last week, we planned for another and we had more members joining. This time round we have Barney, Mookie, William, Nik, myself and someone new to the group, Aidil.

Same meeting point and we were discussing about 'jatuh bodoh', loosely translated as silly falling. It is when the rider looses control of the bike while it is stationary and is tipped over. While sharing stories on when and how each of us experienced this at one time or another, William arrived and he almost 'jatuh bodoh' while coming to a halt. Another incident was when we were preparing to leave Aidil almost 'jatuh bodoh' while getting on his bike and from that point onwards, we agreed to ban this topic for the rest of the ride.

Waiting for the arrival of William

The ride plan was the same as last week. Meet at Caltex and head up to Teluk Bahang dam. It was an uneventful ride there and was surprised to see that there were so many cyclist at the dam.

Our bikes were the only motorised vehicle at the dam

Ride Report #6: First ride to nowhere - within Penang

Since CMCO started on the 9th November 2020 and after two weeks of not riding, we were itching to get on our bikes and just ride around the island. Those who are joining met at the usual Caltex petrol and as usual those who arrived early chit chatted while waiting for the rest to arrive.

There were a total of 5 bikes joining the 1/2 island trip and when all arrived we departed to our first destination which is the Teluk Bahang dam. There was quite a lot of traffic on the way to the dam but we were able to lane split thus saving us some time.

The group waiting for the light on the way to the dam

BMW R 1250GS: First Ride Impression

After test riding both the Rally Pro and GT Pro, makes sense that the next bike on the list to test is the R1250GS. One of the member in the group mentioned that he was lucky to have bought the GS before the release of the Tiger 900 else he would be in a dilemma on which to get.

Called BMW Penang to enquire if they have the test ride unit for R1250GS and F850GS. The test unit for the F850GS was not available because it was in the service center for maintenance but both the GS and GSA are available.

Headed to BMW and at the entrance to the Motorrad section, they have the Boxer engine on display.

Ride Report #5: Pre-CMCO ride

Since CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order) has been reintroduced for a month (9th November until 6th December) except for 3 states in Malaysia, this ride is considered as the last ride for November. Hopefully the number of Covid cases will decrease by then and we are back to RMCO (Recovery Movement Control Order) where interstate travel is open.

The plan was to ride to the waterfall near Jeli. Riders from the island are to meet at the usual Caltex petrol station and head off to meet the rest of the group at the Petronas Seberang Prai and Petronas Kulim respectively.

Group photo at Petronas Seberang Prai

Group photo at Petronas Kulim

Ride Repo #4: Exploring snippets of Perak

The group organised another ride and this time it is to Perak. I have always wanted to visit other states on the bike so I jumped at the chance to join the ride. The itinerary was to depart at Caltex Egate at 0730 hrs and meet the other riders in the mainland at Shell Juru.

 

Plan of the ride of the day

 

At Shell Juru after those who require refueling and tyre pressure check, the group had a pre-ride briefing from the organiser, William before departing to Canning Garden, Ipoh for breakfast.

A pre-ride briefing before taking off

Tiger GT Pro: First Ride Impression

After riding the Rally Pro, the next bike I tested was the GT Pro. The GT Pro has a lower seat height compared to the Rally Pro. For vertically challenged riders, there is also the low seat height option available like in the previous XrX version. The GT Pro has 18" rim compared to Rally Pro which is 21".

 

Another plus side of the GT Pro is that it has electronic suspension and there are four types of settings: Rider, Rider with passenger, Rider with baggage and Rider with passenger with baggage. The settings was set at rider with passenger as I was riding 2 up.

 

Triumph Tiger Rally Pro: First Ride Impression

Triumph Malaysia finally has the demo bike for the Tiger 900. I have been waiting in anticipation to test ride this bike since their announcement release in December 2019 and the press test ride and articles in March 2020. The demo bikes was supposed to be available in March but it was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. I was over the moon when Triumph informed that they have the demo bikes available for the weekend. Made the necessary arrangement and went for the test ride.

There were four demo bikes available: Rally, Rally Pro, GT and GT Pro. I booked the Rally Pro and GT Pro demo bike. Figured if I want to test ride the bikes I might as well go for the highest spec. The first bike I test rode was the Rally Pro. There are 3 colors available for the Rally and Rally Pro: Black, White and Green. They only brought in the Green and Black color. I was hoping the Rally Pro came in red but since it is only available for the GT version, I would go for the black.

Ride Report #3: Round Island: The other way round

There was another group ride to Grik over the weekends but I was not up for it as I have yet to get a new gloves. The week before I went looking for cycling shorts and finally found one in my size and it was on clearance. The reason it was on clearance was because it was attached to the outer shorts like a 2-in-1 pants or like the pants which comes with built in underwear. The salesperson suggested if the shorts is not comfortable with the outer pants, there is always an option to separate them.

Since there no plans on the weekend, I decided to go for a round island trip on Sunday to test the pants. If it doesn't work out, I will have to perform 'surgery'. The last round island trip started from home and went north through Balik Pulau and back through town. This time round we will be starting from home, heading to town for breakfast then going the other way round back home.

 

Round island route

Shoei GT-Air 2 review

Recently had a helmet discussion with a colleague of mine who just started riding. He made the mistake of getting a helmet online without going to the physical shop to personally try on the helmet to get the right sizing. Long story short, he bought two helmets which were in the wrong sizes. Told my friend about the discussion and the next thing I knew she was looking at full face helmets and comparisons online and one name always came up on top: Shoei GT-Air 2. We came across the new Shoei 2020 Graphics and this particular graphics caught our attention.

When I first saw the design it reminded me of Wolverine. Mind you I do not mean the modern Wolverine uniform which we see in the X-Men movies but his uniform from the 1990's:

Ride Report #2: Group ride to Grik

Was recently invited to join a group ride to Grik by a LYN member. He sent me the plan and route and I told him I would be the trip to Grik. This would be the maiden trip for the Vulcan out of Penang. To be honest I could not sleep the night before either from the excitement or over-thinking.

Plan of the trip. 2 hr and 53 mins from our starting point to our destination. A total of 6 hours riding time including return trip

On the day itseld, I packed all the necessary items and got ready to leave at 7:10am. It was drizzling and was praying that the weather stays clear and dry for the entire trip.

TCX Roadster 2

Since I had to go to Hot Bikes to try the TCX shoes, my friend decided to tag along. After looking for some with my size, I managed to get the TCX Mood GTX. I love the look of the Roadster 2 but it is a shame that they sold my size a few days ago. Since my friend likes the design of the Roadster 2 and they have it in her size, she tried it on, felt comfortable and now she has finally acquired the last motorcycle protective gear after 5 years of hunting.

The stylish Roadster 2

TCX Mood GTX

Was looking for a motorcycle specific shoes since I started riding. It has been a challenged for me as I have wide feet. I was recommended by a friend to try the Alpinestars Faster 3 as it has wide option but after 5 minutes of wearing I could feel the pain the sides of my feet. Did more research and found out that the TCX has wide options for their shoes and there is one shop on the island which carries the brand.

Went to Hot Bike to take a look at their shoe selection and the salesperson was a very friendly, helpful and chatty lady. She talked about all her trips, experience on the motorcycle and also her motorcycle accident during one of her motorcycle tours. My criteria for the motorcycle shoes is simple. I need it to look formal enough to pass as office wear, able to spend long hours in it comfortably and has all the protection required in an event of a fall.

She had a couple of shoes which met the requirements and after asking me for my size, she proceeded to look for the one with my size in stock. I had my eyes on the TCX Roadster 2 but sadly she does not have it in my size. After trying on the shoes and asking opinions from friends, I ended up with the Mood GTX Black.

Beatit B7

I had my eyes on this toy a few years ago but did not have a good reason to get it until recently during the MCO period. Long story short my car battery went flat due to not moving and it was parked in a position where it was impossible to get a second car in to jump start it. After placing an order for it on Lazada, the item arrived 3 days later despite the MCO restriction which was impressive.

   

The package comes in the delivery box (left) and it is neatly packed in the box with air pillows for protection (right)

Ride Report #1: Round Island

Since MCO has been lifted there has been an itch to go riding to get rid of the PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome). I have been planning to go for a round island trip since I first got my license to ride. Heck round island trip is even in my motorcycling bucket list.

Bikes used are the usual 2: 2015 Demak D7 Classic and the 2015 Vulcan S. It was an unplanned in the heat of the moment decision. Since Father's Day fell on a Sunday, my friend suggested to go for a round island riding in the morning.

 

This is how the entire trip is supposed to look like. The entire trip is about 70km round island and instead of 2 hours, we took 3 hours plus.

Komine JK-142 Adventure Jacket

Had to take another trip down to Megabike due to a tear of the stitching of my motorcycle pants. The plan was to go down to Megabike, send the pants and get a new one while waiting for the old one to be repaired so I can still go for rides but I ended up with a new jacket instead.

Since I was wearing a larger than normal size, Lai Seng had to do a special order for the pants. The good news is I have first choice of the type of pants from the Komine catalogue and pick which one was compatible with the zip on the jacket. The bad news is I do not know how long it would take for the new pants to arrive due to the Covid-19 virus currently happening (at time of writing).

This is the front and back view of the jacket

Information sheets:

The information sheets attached to the jacket

    

Front, back and the inside of the instruction for the use of the CE protector

Givi PLM01 riding mask

Anyone motorcyclists knows that they will be exposed to dust particles, pollen, sand, poor air quality, etc. compared to those in the car. One way to keep most of these things is to get a mask. There are lots of mask options in the market and the cheapest and easier would be the surgical mask. The problem with surgical masks is that it gets hot and starts getting damp then it will need to be replaced. Another option is to get the headwear. I do have the headwear but I am using it as a liner between the helmet and my head as I sweat a lot. This is where the Givi PLM01 riding mask comes in.

Packaging:

 

The mask comes in its own carrying bag which is very useful. According to the front of the bag, the mask is breathable, flexible and most importantly washable as you will sweat in it.

Moto Tachograph Dash Cam

Been riding the bike almost everyday for about a year and there are so many things which I have experienced. Listed here are my personal riding experience on the road:

Good:

• There are still helpful riders on the road who are willing to take some time off their busy schedule to help a stranded biker.
• There are more bikers who are taking motorcycle safety more seriously.
• Some cagers are more tolerant and make way for bikes to lane split.

Bad:

• All road users are getting crazier and crazier every day. They will just cut in front of you as long as there is enough space for them. As for the riders, they will just squeeze themselves in any space at a higher than normal speed.
• Drivers are not paying attention to the road. They are more engrossed with their phone than look out for any dangers on the road.
• They tailgate and are impatient. While waiting at traffic lights and the light just turn green, they will start honking.
• Both riders and drivers will just change lane without looking or signaling. They think they own the road or the road is empty that they can drive/ride however they like.
• Both riders and drivers are deaf and blind. Honking them and highlighting them to let them know that you are there has no effect. They will still come into your lane and act like they did nothing wrong.
• Pedestrian will also just run across the road with no care in the world and some of them even cross the road with their eyes glued on the phone screen.